ACLS
A patient in ventricular fibrillation should receive this immediately after high-quality CPR.
Defibrillation
ST elevation in leads II, III, and aVF indicates what type of MI?
Answer: Inferior STEMI
Which breath sounds are commonly heard in asthma?
Wheezing
What blood glucose level is generally considered hypoglycemia?
Less than 70 mg/dL
What stroke scale is commonly used by EMS to identify stroke?
Cincinnati Stroke Scale (or BEFAST if accepted)
How often should epinephrine be given during cardiac arrest?
Every 3–5 minutes
What medication should generally be avoided in a hypotensive inferior STEMI with suspected right ventricular involvement?
Nitroglycerin
What waveform is commonly seen on capnography during bronchospasm?
Shark-fin waveform
Which diabetic emergency usually produces ketones?
DKA
A sudden severe headache described as "the worst headache of my life" suggests what?
Hemorrhagic stroke (or subarachnoid hemorrhage)
After the second shock in VF/pulseless VT, what antiarrhythmic is typically given?
Amiodarone 300 mg IV/IO
A patient has chest pain, BP 88/54, HR 34, altered mental status. What ACLS algorithm applies?
Answer: Symptomatic Bradycardia
A COPD patient suddenly loses breath sounds on one side after trauma. What life-threatening condition should you suspect?
Tension pneumothorax
A diabetic has Kussmaul respirations. What acid-base disorder is occurring?
Metabolic acidosis
A patient has weakness and slurred speech that completely resolve after 20 minutes. What is this called?
TIA
Name four reversible causes of cardiac arrest (Hs & Ts).
Answer: Any four (Hypoxia, Hypovolemia, Hydrogen ion/acidosis, Hypo/Hyperkalemia, Hypothermia, Tension pneumothorax, Tamponade, Toxins, Thrombosis pulmonary/coronary)
Which coronary artery is most commonly involved in an inferior STEMI?
Answer: Right Coronary Artery (RCA)
What is the primary treatment that actually opens constricted airways in asthma?
Albuterol
Which diabetic emergency is more common in Type 2 diabetes and often has extremely high glucose but few ketones?
HHS
What type of stroke is treated with thrombectomy?
Answer: Large vessel occlusion
A patient remains pulseless after three shocks, epinephrine, and amiodarone. ETCO₂ is 7 mmHg despite excellent CPR. What does this most likely indicate?
Answer: Poor perfusion/low likelihood of ROSC (CPR quality or prognosis should be reassessed)
Your unstable SVT patient fails adenosine and becomes increasingly hypotensive. What is the next treatment?
Answer: Synchronized cardioversion
A severe asthma patient suddenly has no wheezing despite obvious respiratory distress. Is this improvement?
No—this is a "silent chest" and is a very bad sign.
Why is aggressive fluid replacement the first priority in DKA?
Severe dehydration causes much of the patient's instability.
A seizure patient never regains consciousness before another seizure begins. What is this called?
Answer: Status epilepticus